This is a Photog Q&A post that sort of happened unexpectedly. I have a list of questions that people have recently asked that will get answered in this series in the near future, but I wanted to address this subject first since it was a huge topic at my mentor meeting this past weekend.

Finding your photography style. Whew! It’s a heavy topic, at least in my opinion. Heavy because it’s definitely an important piece to being an artist and having a small business as a professional photographer, but also because I don’t think there’s one clear answer. Every photographer’s style has the ability to be different than the next and every photographer finds their style in different ways. So how do you find your style? And if you have one, how do you know?

After chatting with Kristin and reflecting on our ideas about a photographer’s style, I think the following can either serve as a starting point or turnaround point for aspiring and professional photographers…

1. Consider some basic questions. Why did you start your photography journey? What kind of images are you attracted to? Do you like light or a little bit of darkness, and why? Bright colors or subtle colors, and why? What message do you want your images to portray? Goodness, this can get pretty deep, right? But I think asking these questions and writing your answers down can be a great catapult for discovery…and realization.

2. Your artistry represents YOU! I truly believe that an artist’s work or a photographer’s images is/are a representation of who they are as a person. What they like, their character, their personality…I think those all contribute to the work produced. Take for example, my images. I like to describe them as fun, fresh and colorful, which are all words I would use to describe myself. What words would you use to describe yourself? What words might others use? Are those words you would use to describe your images? If you’re starting a photography biz and plan to incorporate yourself into the branding and such, images that represent you will help with wonderful consistency and cohesiveness from business, to photog to product! Extra points. 🙂

3. Find inspiration. It’s everywhere, so be careful because it can be overwhelming. Pinterest, wedding blogs, magazines, tons and tons of other photographers…they’re all good resources for inspiration, so scan Pinterest every once in a while, pick a few blogs and magazines that you love and bookmark some photographers’ websites that catch your eye, but don’t let them limit you.  If you rely on those resources for inspiration, you may end up crippling your artistry and getting stuck in a copy-cat rut. Use that inspiration as a platform for creativity and consider some organic inspiration like your surroundings, your clients’ clothing choices, their love for each other, nature, and the reason you started your photography journey in the first place. I’ve tried to balance my inspiration by not printing off Pinterest pins, only following a handful of photographers and exploring new photo locations.

4. Embrace (and learn from) the presets! There are tons of presets and trendy editing tools for photographers, so feel free to try them out and see if they fit what you’re looking for…what inspires you…what describes you. But challenge yourself to figure out what exactly those presets are doing to the images. Notice what they do the contrast, color and sharpness. Doing so may allow you to discover your own unique style without having to fit the mold of someone else’s. And honestly, heavy-editing type presets can turn too trendy. I used pre-made presets back in the day until I figured out how to make my own. I want my images to be timeless and look attractive 20 years from now and some of those super trendy presets just won’t do that for me. They do save time and help achieve style, but consider using them as tools instead of finishes.

5. Consistency! Once you’ve found your style, stick with it. I think consistency is HUGE in a small business because it helps produce a trust-worthy, high-quality product. So if you’ve realized you have a style and you like it, try not to alter it too much too often. Maybe you tweak the amount of contrast or sharpness in your images from time to time, but when you do so, remind yourself of those words you used to describe yourself and your images. If they no longer match, you may be running off course…resulting in inconsistency and confusion within yourself and your fans.

My meeting with Kristin also forced me to consider my own photography style. While I think it’s really come into its own over the past year, I can’t help but remember where I started. Let’s take a look back and compare…

My first solo wedding in October of 2009…

And now for a few favorites from my most recent weddings…

There’s definitely some similarities between my first wedding in 2009 and my more recent weddings three years later. I’m glad to see that my shooting style has kept some similar characteristics, but the way I edit is definitely different! I don’t see this huge change in style as a bad thing. It’s a result of learning and growing as a photographer, and it happened gradually. I’m super comfortable and confident with where my style is today and I think it’s a style that represents me and my business very well. My goal is to keep this style, but to let it naturally evolve (just a little!) as I continue to grow in my photography experience and know-how.

So what’s your photography style? Are you comfortable with it and does it represent you? If you haven’t found your style yet, what’s your next step to discovery?